Opening a craft brewery in 2025 takes more than good beer - it takes clarity, discipline, and real strategy.

In this episode of the Ready To Drink Podcast, Nate Fochtman sits down with Kyle Underkoffler, co-founder of Berg Brewing Company in Chambersburg, Pennsylvania, to break down what it actually takes to build a brewery from scratch in today’s crowded beer market.

This conversation covers:

• How Berg Brewing transformed a historic building into a working brewery
• Why European beer styles, simplicity, and quality still matter
• The realities of running a small brewery and wearing every hat
• Building a business with family and maintaining trust
• Why founders need a clear vision before spending their first dollar
• How hospitality, leadership, and culture impact long-term success

This episode is built for craft brewers, beverage founders, and operators who want to understand the business behind the beer - not just the branding.

Subscribe to Ready To Drink for honest conversations with the people building the beverage industry from the inside.

Support the show

Presented by The FreeMind Group - FMGStrategy.com

In this episode of the Ready To Drink Podcast, I sit down on site in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania with Yianni Barakos, Founder of Mason Dixon Distillery - for a raw, unscripted conversation about heritage, resilience, and what it really means to build something that lasts.

Yianni shares the deep roots behind Mason Dixon Distillery, tracing his family’s Greek immigrant story, the culture of hospitality that shaped his upbringing, and the work ethic passed down through generations. We talk about learning how to build a still at age 11, growing up in and around his father’s diner, and how those early lessons in community, craftsmanship, and generosity became the foundation of his business today.

This conversation goes far beyond spirits. We get into:

- Why hospitality is about presence, not just product
- The difference between serving drinks and creating experiences
- Overcoming physical adversity and building a business with intention
- The role of community in sustaining independent businesses
- Raising the next generation with values of competence, confidence, and capability

Mason Dixon Distillery isn’t just a distillery - it’s a living example of how culture, family, and purpose can be poured into every glass.

This episode was filmed cold - no prep, no script - just a real conversation about building something meaningful.

Recorded on location at Mason Dixon Distillery, Gettysburg, PA
Learn more at FindMasonDixon.com

Subscribe for more founder stories from the people shaping the future of Ready To Drink, hospitality, and independent craft.

More Stories at ReadyToDrinkPodcast.com

Support the show

Presented by The FreeMind Group - FMGStrategy.com

Justin Hoak didn’t set out to build one of the most unique brewery models in Pennsylvania - but that’s exactly what Yah Brew has become. In this episode of the Ready To Drink Podcast, Justin breaks down how Yah Brew grew from selling crowlers at pop-ups to launching a full production facility, multiple taprooms, and a completely original 90s-themed brand experience that’s pulling people in for more than just beer.

We talk about the real decisions behind expansion, how to avoid the traps that shut breweries down, why nostalgia still sells, and how a one-barrel basement system is feeding two taprooms while a turnkey production site comes online. Justin also opens up about the early days bartending, learning the craft, shaping a brand built on fun, culture, and details, and building revenue streams that actually make sense in today’s market.

If you’re a founder, brewer, or anyone paying attention to where the industry is heading, this is a masterclass in strategic creativity and survival.

Chapters include:
– The origins of Yah Brew and the 90s theme
– Expanding into Hershey and Middletown
– Hoagie shop and food strategy
– Contract brewing, collaborations, and industry decline
– How to expand without sinking the ship
– Game nights, community, and keeping people in the taproom
– The new production facility and full co-op brewery model

More Stories at ReadyToDrinkPodcast.com

Support the show

Presented by The FreeMind Group - FMGStrategy.com

Moon Flower Hemp isn’t just another hemp brand - it’s a family legacy built by three generations of Appalachian women, rooted in the moment the 2018 Farm Bill cracked the door open for innovation. In this episode, I sit down with co-founders Riley and Macie Queen to talk about their beginnings, “their father’s early vision”, and the moment their one-acre experiment turned into a vertically integrated craft cannabis business trusted across the country.

We dig into why transparency matters, what it takes to control every step from soil to final product, and why “regulate don’t eliminate” isn’t just a tagline - it’s a call to protect an industry that has given people real alternatives, real relief, and real choices.

We get into the politics, the infighting, and the bad actors hurting honest operators. And we talk about the blended regulatory model that can actually work - borrowing the best of commercial alcohol distribution and the tracking systems used in medical cannabis.

We also talk about unity: between cannabis companies, between craft brewers, and between everyday Americans who are tired of watching their industries get reshaped by people who have never worked a day in them.

Moon Flower Hemp’s West Virginia roots run deep, and their commitment to their community is impossible to miss. This is the kind of story our industry needs right now.

Check out MoonFlowerHemp.com & ReadyToDrinkPodcast.com

Support the show

Presented by The FreeMind Group - FMGStrategy.com

On this episode of Ready To Drink Podcast, I sit down with Pete Olander, founder of Happie Beverages, for one of the most candid and grounded conversations we’ve had on the show. Pete walks through the early spark that launched Happie, the years he spent in nutrition and regulated cannabis, and the unexpected realities of building a beverage company from scratch in an industry that shifts under your feet.

We get into the origin story of both lines under the Happie umbrella - the THC beverages built on clean labels and tight compliance, and the functional mushroom line that’s now gaining national traction. Pete also talks openly about regulatory turbulence, why structure is an opportunity rather than a threat, and how founders can stay steady in moments that would shake most people out of the game.

From California’s regulated market to national e-commerce, from formulation work to distribution partnerships, and from the entrepreneurial grind to the role of culture and family in shaping a brand - this is a deep look at what it really takes to build a company that lasts.
If you’re a beverage founder, investor, retailer, or someone following the rise of functional and THC beverages, this is an important episode.

New episodes of Ready To Drink Podcast roll out weekly, featuring the founders, makers, operators, and innovators shaping the future of beverages.

Full Story on ReadyToDrinkPodcast.com

Support the show

Presented by The FreeMind Group - FMGStrategy.com

On this episode of the Ready To Drink Podcast, host Nate Fochtman sits down with Paul Lemley, founder of Battlefield Brew Works in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania - one of the most unique brewery and distillery destinations in America.

Paul shares how he transformed an abandoned barn on the historic East Cavalry Field into a thriving brewery and distillery nearly 30 years ago, long before the craft beer boom. From battling township regulations and limited utilities in the ‘90s to becoming Pennsylvania’s first dual-license brewery/distillery, Paul’s story is one of grit, innovation, and true American entrepreneurship.

This is more than a business story - it’s a testament to resilience, craftsmanship, and community. Whether you’re a brewer, distiller, entrepreneur, or just someone who loves a good story over a cold drink, this episode will hit home.

Watch, learn, and raise a glass to perseverance.

Presented by The FreeMind Group - FMGStrategy.com

Support the show

Presented by The FreeMind Group - FMGStrategy.com

In this episode of Ready To Drink Podcast, host Nate Fochtman sits down with JR Heaps, founder of South County Brewing, to unpack the 15-year journey from a 300-square-foot homebrew setup in Fawn Grove to a 30,000-square-foot destination brewery in York, Pennsylvania.

JR shares how the 2008 housing crash pushed him to chase his brewing dream, the early days of welding tanks and hand-filling bombers, and how South County became a cornerstone of Central PA’s craft scene. From the hazy IPA boom to the rise of small-scale canning, this conversation dives deep into what it takes to survive and grow in one of the most competitive markets in America.

Watch to hear JR’s take on craftsmanship, family, evolution, and what it really means to build something that lasts.

Timestamps:
00:00 – Introduction
02:10 – The birth of South County Brewing
06:45 – Brewing through the 2008 crash
12:30 – The shift from bombers to cans
18:15 – The haze craze and changing beer culture
24:40 – Building a community hub in York, PA
31:00 – Lessons from 15 years in the brewing industry

Subscribe to the Ready To Drink Podcast for authentic founder stories from the frontlines of beverage and hospitality innovation.

Support the show

Presented by The FreeMind Group - FMGStrategy.com

Meet Mike Podlogar and Peri Higgins, Co-Founders of More Love, a hemp-derived THC sparkling beverage based in Hatfield, PA. In this episode of the Ready To Drink Podcast with host Nate Fochtman, Mike and Peri share their journey from successful careers (including investment banking and co-packing) to creating a nationally available alcohol alternative.

More Love is designed to be the ultimate social substitute for alcohol, offering great flavors like Sun Berry, Orange Tide, and Pineapple Colada, without the hangover.

In this deep-dive, you'll learn:

The Power of Federal Legality: How their hemp-derived THC product enables them to sell and ship Direct-to-Consumer (DTC) in up to 28 states, bypassing traditional, regional distribution bottlenecks.

Building a Market from Scratch: The unique challenges and excitement of pioneering an entirely new "Wild West" distribution network in a control state like Pennsylvania.

Product Philosophy: Why they focus on cocktail-inspired flavors and their vision of creating a "net positive" social beverage that raises the bar for the industry.

Entrepreneurial Advice: Their non-negotiable tips for aspiring entrepreneurs entering the challenging beverage market.

Whether you're curious about the future of social drinking or looking for inspiration on launching a consumer packaged goods (CPG) brand in a complex regulatory environment, this interview is a must-listen.

Ready To Drink Podcast is hosted by Nate Fochtman, Founder of The FreeMind Group.

Support the show

Presented by The FreeMind Group - FMGStrategy.com